Tyrez Lavor Johnson, 31, of Hartsville, South Carolina, pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing cocaine base and illegally possessing a firearm — a double-barreled conviction that could land him behind bars for up to 20 years.
Johnson admitted in Florence federal court to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, and being a felon in possession of a firearm under Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g). U.S. District Judge R. Bryan Harwell accepted the plea and will sentence Johnson after the U.S. Probation Office completes a pre-sentence report.
The charges stem from a 2017 sting led by the Hartsville Police Department, Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In October of that year, investigators conducted a controlled buy of crack cocaine directly from Johnson — evidence that lit the fuse on the federal case.
When law enforcement moved in to arrest him on drug charges, they found Johnson in possession of a .357 caliber revolver. Because of a prior conviction for a controlled substance offense, he was legally barred from owning any firearm — a fact that stacked the federal charges against him.
U.S. Attorney Beth Drake confirmed Johnson now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor, successfully tied the drug sale and gun possession into a single, damning narrative of ongoing criminal activity.
The case highlights the federal crackdown on drug traffickers who arm themselves in high-crime areas. For Johnson, the plea marks the end of the legal rope — and the beginning of a likely long stretch in federal prison.
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Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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